National Cat Awards 2012 launched

Cats Protection has launched the National Cat Awards 2012 and is on the look out for the UK’s favourite cat.

The competition has changes this year and is now open to all cats, rather than just stray and rescue ones.

Owners can enter their cats into one of the four categories: Hero cat, best friends, most incredible story and outstanding rescue cat.

There is also a new celebrity cat category that has been added to recognise cats within the public eye.

Peter Hepburn, chief executive of Cats Protection, said: "These awards highlight how cats make wonderful pets and enhance people’s quality of life so it was important they were opened up to honour all the nation’s cats.

"The stories we hear on a daily basis never fail to demonstrate the benefits cats bring to their owners."

The winner of the National Cat Awards 2011 was Marmite, a one-year-old who helped his pregnant owner Lindsey when she started having contractions while at home alone.

To enter the competition, owners can visit www.cats.org.uk/national-cat-awards or request an entry from helpline@cats.org.uk.